FIFA Confirms Iran Moves World Cup Base Camp From Tucson, Arizona to Tijuana

FIFA confirmed that Iran will hold its World Cup base camp in Mexico, moving it from Tucson, Arizona to Tijuana, as the team’s participation has been questioned amid the war with the United States.

“FIFA confirmed that Iran will hold its World Cup base camp in Mexico, not the U”

Front Office Sports

Iran’s soccer federation president Mehdi Taj said in a statement on Saturday that “our request to change the team’s base from the United States to Mexico was approved.”

Front Office Sports

The move places Iran’s group stage matches in Los Angeles and Seattle, with Iran set to play New Zealand on June 15 in Los Angeles, Belgium on June 21 in Los Angeles, and Egypt on June 26 in Seattle.

The decision came after FIFA declined Iran’s request to move its World Cup matches to Mexico earlier, following U.S. President Donald Trump’s indication he could not guarantee the “life and safety” of Iranian players.

FIFA distributed base camp information for all 48 World Cup participants on Monday, listing Iran’s location as Tijuana.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum framed the relocation as a request tied to U.S. concerns, saying on Monday that “The United States doesn’t want the Iranian national team to stay overnight in the United States,” and adding that Mexico has “no issue with that.”

Sheinbaum also described FIFA’s approach to Mexico, telling reporters, “And we said, ‘Yes, no problem. We have no issue with that’,” as USA Today reported FIFA requested Mexico host the team’s base camp.

Haaretz

Iran’s federation and FIFA meetings were described as including discussions in Istanbul and a video conference with FIFA’s secretary general, Mattias Grafström, before Taj announced the approval over the weekend.

The New York Times reported that Taj said, “our request to change the team’s base from the United States to Mexico was approved,” after meetings with FIFA and World Cup officials in Istanbul and a “webinar meeting” Friday with FIFA general secretary Mattias Grafström.

The Athletic, as quoted by The New York Times, said planning was in full swing only 17 days before the World Cup, with law enforcement agencies meeting regularly to coordinate security.

FIFA’s confirmation that Iran will be hosted by Tijuana’s Centro Xoloitzcuintle came as the base camp decision was described as another impact of the ongoing military conflict between the U.S. and Iran.

“FIFA has confirmed that the Iranian national team has officially moved its World Cup base camp from the United States to Tijuana, Mexico”

The New York Times

The New York Times said the decision came only 17 days before the World Cup, co-hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico, gets underway, and it also described security apparatus planning around the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson before the switch.

Front Office Sports reported that the two sides were still technically operating under a ceasefire while top Iranian officials were in Doha meeting with Qatari mediators about making a deal when the strikes happened.

FIFA already paid Pima County half of the $213,952 base fee to use the FC Tucson training facility on April 10, and a Pima County spokesperson said the county was “in discussions with FIFA about the status of the financial portions of the contract.”

The relocation also reshapes where Iran trains, with Town & Country saying Iran will train at Estadio Caliente in Tijuana, offering proximity to Inglewood where two of its three group stage matches will be played.